NEW TOOLS to help the agricultural industry harness science's "deeper understanding" of genetics offer an exciting future for breeders of livestock and crops – but cannot be used without the approval of consumers.

Speaking at last week's International Farm Management Conference in Edinburgh, Genus regional director Andy Thompson outlined the various ways in which the science of genomics was revolutionising livestock production.

“From what has been done in the pig, poultry and dairy sectors and what we are beginning to achieve with beef and sheep, through collaboration with experts like the team at Scotland’s Rural College, we know we can address challenges like antibiotic resistance, improved animal welfare and the ability to cope with drought or heat in various parts of the world,” he told delegates. “But we must carry consumers with us, there must be benefits they understand.”

Mr Thompson noted that science had moved beyond identifying individual genes or their DNA, and could now consider the wider package of genes in an animal's genome and identify the influence particular groups of genes have, whether good or bad. This growing science of genomics was developing a better understanding of how to select for particular traits in livestock, such as milk yield, disease resistance or temperament.

Down the same path, techniques like gene editing offered further options: “Gene editing is not genetic modification,” stressed Mr Thompson. “We don’t add DNA from any other source. The international initiative we are part of involves removing the particular element of the pig genome which binds with a devastating virus disease. Editing means the virus has no way in, while leaving everything else working normally.

"The technology works, our next step is to gather the evidence to convince the public it is safe, both in terms of animal health and welfare or anyone eating the offspring. That will take some years," he admitted, while adding that the recent announcement by UK health authorities that genomics had a beneficial role to play in addressing human diseases like cancer may help increase public understanding and acceptance of what animal scientists have been studying for years.

Mr Thompson said that researchers had to be sensitive to how different cultures and belief systems might to contribute to the debate: “For example, in India milk is an important source of protein so there is obvious scope to expand the dairy herd. But where cattle are considered sacred what do you do with the 50% of calves born as bulls? One answer might be to use so called sexed-semen, treated so it produces mainly female calves, but what would be the reaction to that by religious groups?”

One company already making extensive use of genomic information in their business is Yorkshire Dairy Goats, a highly successful operation milking 8000 nannies in two units. While their main enterprise remains selling milk and other dairy products, managing director David Elvis revealed their latest venture is marketing semen around the world from a Yorkshire based genetically proven elite flock. Another business has just opened in New Zealand.

The Edinburgh conference was organised for the International Farm Management Association by SRUC and the UK’s Institute of Agricultural Management, whose members include farmers, farm managers and consultants.